Disclaimer : I don't own Skip Beat

Chapter 2 : Kuon and A Blurry Memory

Kyouko drove her car directly to the basement car park, as she knew she couldn't use a valet at this time. The man beside her was in a real mess and she didn't want anyone to know about him. Moreover, he had her address and name- he was looking for her, even though she had no idea at all about him.

"Why do you…?" that man began to ask but decided to stop.

"You can just follow me," said Kyouko with her lying smile.

They got out of the car and into the elevator.

He's so tall, thought Kyouko when she stole a quick glance at that man standing beside her. He's taller than Shou's 180cms, and even taller than Shachou. Well, maybe because he's a gaijin?

"Ehm, we are here," said Kyouko whilst pointing to the wooden name plague of her condominium door. Mogami was written on it, but she wasn't sure that he could read it. She opened her bag and proceeded to insert the key.

The man's eyes widened and said, "Wait, what are you going to do, barging into Miss Mogami's house?" He grabbed her wrist and made Kyouko face him.

Kyouko almost laughed at his sudden outburst. She suppressed it and instead she giggled, "Mister, this is my house. Am I not allowed to enter?"

"Your house?" He asked incredulously whilst trying to remember something. "You are Kyouko Mogami?"

"I am."

"But you are perhaps only… 20 or so?" He still had a what-I-don't-believe-you-are-Mogami look.

"Let's just get in and sort you out first!" With that, she inserted the key and both of them walked into the room.

She flicked on the lights and the room brightened.

"Please sit down!" said Kyouko, gesturing to the sofa, "Wait for me here. I just need a minute, okay?"

The man nodded and Kyouko entered her bedroom. She was instantly dizzy when she saw her messed up room. I have to clean it up later, she thought and walked into her walk-in wardrobe. She pulled out a T-Shirt she bought two days ago, with the intention to present it to Shou, but it was no use now so it could be given to that man. She also pulled out a pair of training shorts of hers. She was hoping the shorts fit him. It wasn't really a pair of shorts, more like three quarters length trousers since it stopped on her mid calves and had an elastic band.

"Um… if you like, you can take a bath first and we can take care of your injury," suggested Kyouko whilst handed him clothes. "There's a fresh towel in the bathroom, and…" Her words were cut by a loud growl. She tilted her head and noticed the man was slightly embarrassed. She smiled and said, "Well, why don't you just go to the bathroom? I can fix you a late dinner," said Kyouko. "We can talk later."

The man blushed and turned his face away from her. Kyouko raised her eyebrows and had to suppress her giggle. She took the initiative and pulled on his arm, forced him to stand up, and pushed him towards the bathroom. The man complied and disappeared into the bathroom.

Thirty minutes later, Kyouko was finished with the tempura ochazuke. She also made some tamagoyaki and set it on the dining room table. She noticed the man, all freshened up and bandaged. He must have bandaged it on his own. Whatever! The clothes seemed to fit him. Thank God!

He was sitting on her living room's sofa, just like when he first entered her condo. His blond hair looked dark and there was still water dripping down his neck. Her 'busybody' instinct kicked in and she walked towards him, took the towel off his neck and started to 'properly' dry his hair for him.

The man was surprised and sat still before he grabbed the hands that were currently 'abusing' his head. Kyouko squeaked and stepped back but his grip was deadly tight.

"What are you doing, Miss Mogami?"

He let go of her hands and stared up at her. She was once again captivated by the green eyes that were currently staring at her. "You'll catch a cold if you don't dry it properly!" She turned back, embarrassed by her own actions, and continued, "Ehm, let's have some food."

She walked away in a hurry and heard the man get up from the sofa and follow her.

They were sitting face to face some minutes later and she said, "Please eat! It's already late, and you can start by telling me why you have my address and the reason you're here, Mr…"

"Kuon. My name is Kuon Hizuri," he muttered and starting to eat.

That's a Japanese name. He's Japanese? No way… Maybe a half? Kyouko watched him eat and trying to recall any Hizuri she knew. Can't he be related to Julie-san? She observed Kuon closely. Blond hair, green eyes, and a handsome face, rather pretty perhaps. He's too beautiful to be a man anyway. Now she can clearly saw his face after he cleaned up.

"Are you perhaps related to Juliena?" she asked bluntly, decided to go with the guess.

He halted and stared back at her, nodded and continued eating his food. Kyouko was still waiting. She could see that he was almost finished with the food.

He's very neat. Not a sloppy eater, she commented inwardly and instantly regretted it. What am I doing assessing him like this?

"Thank you, it's very tasty, Miss Mogami," Kuon said with a smile and her heart skipped a bit upon seeing that smile. That smile was illegal. He can't just go around smiling like that! It's not good for my fragile heart!

"Ah… no problem! So, you are related to Juliena? May I ask why do you have my address?"

"She's my mother. She's always talking about her certain friend here in Japan. I thought that Kyouko Mogami was her 'old' friend. She talked about you like you're an old granny, living in a peaceful environment here in Japan. I thought that I can at least find some peace here and since I'm good with the elders, I thought I'll ask you to let me live here for a bit. I've applied for a work visa. I wish to find a job here. My mother also said that being with you brought her peace."

Kyouko stunned. A granny? What the hell is this guy talking about? I knew that my busybody character made me look like a granny sometimes. I swear I'll scold Julie-san properly. Man, she misled her son. I'm only 21 years old, damn it… what is the peace she's talking about?

"Did you not at least find out who I was before you went to Japan? Now I'm sure that you're from California. Julie-san lives there."

"I'm sorry! I was in an outrage when I did it. I managed to bring and tear down my mother's address book, packed my things fast and got a flight to Japan."

Kyouko raised her brows and thought What a spoilt kid! "Who do you think I am, kid? A chaperone?" she said, and later regretted it. He was older than her and she called him 'kid'. "Hey, what if I am some sort of witch who eats children to keep my youth?"

He laughed and said, "Miss, you sure are an interesting person. I am probably older than you. No wonder my mother talked like that about you, I did have an impression that you're an old lady."

She blushed and didn't know what to say back. "And I don't think you're the type of person to eat children after seeing you," he continued with a wink.

Is he just flirting with me now? Kyouko's brow twitched.

"Mamma's boy," she blurted.

Kuon gaped at her and tried to recompose himself. "Just so you know, I'm not a mamma's boy. I can take care of myself perfectly fine."

"Oh yeah? So how come I found you on the road, injured, like a stray dog? You didn't even find out who am I, assuming that I am a good old lady that will take care of a spoilt child like you. You don't even bother to learn a bit of Japanese to at least get yourself recognised. As safe as Japan is, there are still dangers around," Kyouko scolded him. She looked furious and panted hard after her outburst.

"…" He couldn't seem to find a word to get back at her and just gawked at her like a goldfish.

"Sorry, I don't mean to… I just had a bad day. I'm sorry I've taken it out on you. So what can I do to help you? Julie-san was like a mother to me, I guess I can lend a hand to her son." Her face softened. "Do you want me to call your mother?"

"No, please don't!" He immediately responded. "She doesn't know I'm in Japan."

"What? You ran away from home?" Kyouko gasped.

"I didn't live with my parents. I won't say that I ran away from home. I am 25 and no longer a kid. I don't need my parents to take care of me. I only need someplace to…" He didn't continue and looked officially annoyed at her accusation.

So he's really older than me? I knew it though, she told me that before, but seeing how he acted made me unsure. Kyouko thought.

"Where do you live?"

"LA."

"I don't mean your home, I mean in Japan. Where do you live?"

"New Canary Hotel."

I know that hotel well. That was the hotel where Cain and I lived for a while almost four years ago, she thought. A blush was starting to creep onto her cheeks and she hurriedly composed herself again. She didn't want any unwanted questions directed to her for the sudden silence.

"What? It's just around the corner. And why did you drive to Gunma?"

"I guess I just got lost," he answered sheepishly. "This is only my third time in Japan."

"That's quite far from here. Gunma, I meant. Do you have your clothes in the hotel? Your passport?"

"I have my clothes and passport along with several precious things secured in the hotel, but I can't find my wallet. I remember I had it in my jeans pocket. My driver's license was in it too."

"You were probably robbed. We need to take you by the US embassy and the police tomorrow. The rental car was stolen, right? I will have Yashiro accompany you."

"I don't want to impose on you more after you were so kind in helping me tonight."

"It's okay. You're Julie-san's son and I will make sure her baby boy safe," she grinned and emphasised on the words 'baby boy'. "You know, you should have just called me… but I see, there's nothing written aside from my name and address."

Kuon's face reddened.

"Hey, if you're Julie-san's baby boy then you're Kuu-san's baby boy too. Ah, now I remember. They did say they had a son. Kuon. I was thinking of Corn when they said so. But I got corrected," she said and laughed on her stupid mistake in the past.

He stiffened at the mention of his father's name, and later his mind was occupied by Kyouko's next line. Corn? He thought. A little girl called him so in the past. Her face splashed across his mind. It was blurry and he couldn't remember.

"Hizuri-san."

"Just call me Kuon, Kyouko."

Kyouko immediately said, "I don't mind you calling me my given name, but please put a honorific after it. It should be Kyouko-chan, at least."

Kuon chuckled. He didn't really understand how Japanese addressed their friend, "Okay, Kyouko-chan."

Another blurry memory came into his mind. Shouldn't it be Kyouko-chan?

"Kuon-san, are you okay?"

"I'm okay."

"Good, you can use the guest room. It's just beside my bedroom. Feel free to use anything in there! Just make yourself home."

"Thanks, Kyouko-chan."

"Corn! Corn! Look, this stone can be hamburgers! This too…" A pig tailed little girl was contemplated the flat stones in her hands. "It's a hamburger palace."

"Then what is it then, Kyouko-chan?" Kuon lifted a big flat stone.

"Greetings to you, King of Hamburger Palace," she lifted her skirt a bit and do a salutation.

Kuon laughed at the girl's antics.

It goes blurry and another memory appeared in his dream.

"Corn, why am I so stupid? I can't get 100 credits." The little girl in his dream was crying painfully. "Mother will get mad at me." He felt his heart break.

It goes blurry again.

"Corn, don't go!" That girl was still crying. "Can I write a letter to you?"

"No, your letter can't reach me."

Kyouko-chan in his dream was crying again.

He saw his 10 year old self give the girl a bluish stone and her face brightened. He showed her how to make the stone change colours.

"It's magic, Kyouko-chan!"

"Uwa… Thank you, Corn. I will treasure it."

Kuon awoke suddenly. He was sweating a lot and tried to remember the dream he had just had. But he couldn't seem to remember it.

"A dream? A little girl? She's so familiar. Kyouko-chan." He laid himself back down and fell into a deep slumber again after muttering something he could remember from the dream.

A/N : There's several questions about the man in the previous chapter. I hope this chapter can answer the questions. Well, not all of it though. Enjoy! :)

Beta-ed by lozipozivanillabean. Thanks Lat-san.